Machine for splitting pigs&#39; feet



July 9, 1929- c. J. KAUFMANN ET AL MACHINE FOR SPL-IT'TING PIGS FEET 2Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 29, 1927 Inventors CHARLES J. HAUFMANN THOMASA. SMITH Avaorneys July 9, 1 c. J. KAUFMANN ET AL MACHINE F'oR SPLITTINGIGS FEET Filed Oct. 29, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors CHA F?LE6 JimUFMA NN THOMAS/4. SMITH (I 1& (6 1M Atuornegs Fatented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J KAUFMANN AND THOMAS A. SMITH, OF AUSTIN, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNORS TO GEO.A. HOBMEL & COMPANY, OF AUSTIN, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MIN- NESOTA.

MACHINE FOR SPLITTING PIGS FEET.

Application: filed October as, 1927. Serial No. 229,055.

This invention relates to new and useful ifmprovements in machines forsplitting pigs eet.

An object of the invention is to provide" such a machine comprising arotary knife and a conveyer having means for holding and supporting thepigs feet in such a manner that when they are fed against the knifeblade, they will be split longitudinally.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for splittingpigs feet comprising a frame having a rotary knife mounted in the upperportion thereof beneath which a conveyor chain is arranged which hasclemo'untably secured thereto a plurality of V-sh'aped holders, eachadapted to support a pigs foot and to feed it longitudinally against theknife blade, each holder being provided with anti-friction rollersadapted to travel upon guide rails which functionto provide a supportfor the holders. a

A further object is to provide such a machine comprising a conveyorchain having a pluralit of substantially \flshaped holders detacha lysecured thereto, each havin a soft metal bottom upon which the pigs"Test are supported, and the rotary knife of the machine being adjustablymounted with respect' to said holders whereby the cutting edge thereofmay be positioned to substantially engage the soft metal bottom of theholders, thus insuringa smooth, clean cut.

The particular objectof the invention therefore is to provide a simpleand inexpensive machine'- for splitting pigs feet, comprising a rotaryknife having a smooth cutting edge whereby the pigs feet may be splitlongitudinally without waste. I

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription and accompanying" drawings and will be pointed out in theannexed claims.

In the accompanying" drawings there has partially broken away to beendisclosed a structure designed to carry 1 is a view n side elevation ofthe' show the relative positions of the knife blade and holders as thelatter pass beneath the knife;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan View of one of the holders removed from the conveyorchain;

and

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 3, showingthe position assumed by a pigs foot when positioned in a holder andengaged by the knife.

The novel apparatus featured in this invention comprises a conveyorchain 2 mounted upon suitable sprocket-s 3 and 4. The sprocket 3 ascarried by a shaft 5 mounted in suitable bearings secured to anextension 6 of the main frame 7, as shown in Figure 1. This shaft isdriven from a motor 8 through a train of gears 9, supported upon thehorizontal member 11 of the frame extension 6. The motor 8 may besupported upon a suitable bracket l2 secured to the main frame 7 asshown in Figure 2. The sprocket 4 is mounted upona shaft 13 which isborne by bearings l4, adjustably mounted on brackets 15 to provide meansfor taking up slack in the con'veyer chain 2.

A feature of this invention resides in the I ing practically all waste,resultin in increased efficiency and economy of the apparatus. g

The novel structure featured in this inven-- tion comprises a circularknife 16' mounted upon a: shaft 17 above" the conveyer chain 2.

The shaft 171is mounted inbeari-n gs l8 and 19', adjustably secured to'the uprights 7 of the main frame as shown in Figure 2. The uprights 7"are slotted as indicated at 21 and screw eyes 22' are secured to thebearings 1 8' and 19' andiextend' upwardly through brackets 23'terminally provided upon the uprights 7. lTand wheels 24 are received inthreaded a function to provide supports for the pigs feet and toconveythem against the knife blade, as shown in Figure 1. Each of theseholders is substantially U-shaped in cross-section and is preferablyconstructed of boiler plate having trunnions 29 provided on each sidethereof adapted to receive flanged rollers 31. These rollers are adaptedto travel upon. guiderails 32, secured to the main frame of the machineas shown in Figure 2. The ends of the holders 26 are open, as indicatedat in Figures 2 and l, to provide clearance for the knife 16 when theholders pass therebeneath. The bottom of each U-shaped holder is coveredwith a suitable soft metal such, for example, as lead or babbitt. Inoperation, the blade 16 is adjusted so that the cutting edge thereofsubstantially engages the top surface 25 of the soft metal provided inthe bottom of the holders. Thus, when the hold ers successively passbeneath the knife, the

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pigs feet positioned therein will be engaged by the knife which willsplit or sever them lengthwise as shown in Figures 1 and 4. As a resultof the bottoms of the holders 26 being of comparatively soft metal, thecutting edge of the knife blade may be substantially engaged therewithwithout danger of becoming dulled.

The holders 26 are preferably detachably secured to the conveyor chain 2to permit revided at the lower portion of the A valve moval therefromfor repairs or replacement,

when necessary. As here shown, the holders are connected with theconveyor chain by means of brackets 35 having their upper ends seatedagainst the sides of the U-shaped holders 26 and secured thereto bymeans of bolts 36. The lower ends of the brackets 35 may be integrallyformed with the links 37 of the conveyer chain. Guide rails 38 are alsoproframe 7 adapted to be lieve the conveyer chain of the weight of theholders, upon its return run.

In order to provide a smooth, clean out, water is onto the upper portionof therotary knife blade 16. Water may be delivered to the knife bladethrough a pipe 38, having a connection with a source of supply, notshown. 39 is provided for controlling the supply of water to the knife.

rotary knife 16 to prevent it from throwing engaged by the rollers 31 tore-v preferably sprayed or discharged A housing 41 -preferably enclosesthe upper portion of the or spraying water about the machine while inoperation The lower wall 42 of this housing is spaced relatively closeto the upper edges of the holders 26, and functions as a guard toprevent the pigs feet from being thrown out of the holders, when engagedby the knife. In actual practice, itfhas been found that this guard isof little use as the pigs foot, when being split by the knife, scarcelymoves with respect to the holder wherein it is positioned. Nevertheless,the plate 42 guards against any possible danger of the foot being thrownout of the holder,

should it be engaged. by the knife in an abnorengagen'ient with therotary knife blade and severed lengthwise, after which they will bedischarged from the upper end of the machine onto a suitable receivingmeans, such asa bin or table, not shown. The conveyer chain and holdersare preferablyarranged at an incline, as shown in Figure l, for the sakeof convenience. receiving. end of the machine will be positioned abovethe floor at a height convenient for the operator to place the pigs feetin the holders, and, as a result of the discharge end of the apparatusbeing elevated,rsufiicient room is provided therebeneath to accommodatea truck or might not be possible if the conveyer chain and holders werearranged horizontally. Also, as a result By thus arranging it, the

other receiving means, which of the holders being arranged rotary knifefrom the pipe 38, is more readily drained from the holders The angle ofthe chain andholders therefore may be varied and, if desired, may beoperated in a horizontal plane without departing from the scope of theinvention.

We claim as our invention:

.1. A machine for splitting pigs feet, comprising a rotary knife, aconveyer chain, a plurality of holders secured to said chain and eachadapted to support'a pigs foot, said holders having their opposite endsopen to receive said rotary knife, and. each holder further having asoft metal bottom adapted substantially to be engaged by the cuttingedge of said rotary knife, whereby when the pigs feet are fed againstsaid knife by movement of said holders, the pigs feet will be splitlongitudinally'with afclean smooth cut.

2. A machine for splitting pigs feet, comprising a revolving cuttingblade, holders adapted to receive the feet each having a bottom ofcomparatively soft material upon which the pigs feetare' placed, andmeans prising a revolving cutting blade, holders having flaring sidewalls, end walls on each holder between which and said side walls thefeet are held, said holders having means beneath the normal position ofthe feet adapted substantially to be engaged by the blade, whereby theblade may cut entirely through the feet, and means for successivelyfeeding said holders and feet to said blade.

4. A machine for splitting pigs feet, comprising acutting blade, aseriesof holders each adapted to receive a pigs foot, means for guiding saidholders, means for feeding them successively to said blade, and anelongated member in each holder permitting said blade to pass entirelythrough each foot in splitting the same longitudinally, and whereby asmooth clean cut is obtained.

5. A machine for splitting pigs feet, including a revolving splittingblade, holders having walls between which the feet to be split areplaced, each holder having a comparatively soft material in the bottomthereof under and adjacent the foot to be split, said holders havingsuitable guides and means for directing them successively toward saidsplitting blade, the soft material in the bottom of each holderpermitting said blade to pass completely through each foot during thesplitting operation.

6. A machine for splitting pigs feet, comprising a rotary cutter, adriving means therefor, an endless conveyer, a plurality of bolderssecured to said conveyer in spaced relation, each holder havingoutwardly flared walls, a soft metal bottom in each holder upon whichthe pigs feet are placed, said soft bottom being adapted to be engagedby the cutting edge of said cutter whereby the pigs feet are out cleanthrough, and means for spraying said cutter to prevent particles of meatfrom adhering thereto, when in operation.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set or hands this 20th day ofOctober, 1927.

CHARLES J. KAUFMANN. THOMAS A. SMITH.

